'This is nuts': Improbable NBA comeback leaves fans gobsmacked

With a 17-point lead and just six minutes left to play in the third quarter, the New Orleans Pelicans might have thought they were home free against the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday.

Guided by a standout performance from second year sensation Zion Williamson, the Pels looked to have their 18th win of the season wrapped up - until Damian Lillard decided he wasn't ready to roll over just yet.

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Known to be one of the most clutch players in the NBA, Lillard scored 15 of the Blazers' points in a 25-7 run down the stretch to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Lillard finished with 50 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, capped by two game winning free throws after Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe fouled him with less than two seconds on the clock and the Blazers trailing by one point.

After New Orleans lead 115-98 in the fourth, the Blazers came back to record a stunning 125-124 victory to improve to 23-16 on the season.

“In the huddles we just kept telling each other that we were the more experienced team, and these are the kind of games we’re capable of winning,” Lillard said afterwards.

“We just stayed the course and showed a lot of resilience.

'When it seemed it was getting worse, I felt our communication and our trust in each other just kept building.”

Lillard's performance generated a substantial reaction on social media, with NBA diehards in awe of the 30-year-old's continued ability to come through when it mattered most.

Even key NBA rival, Golden State's Draymond Green, had to give Lillard props for his performance, one of many to take to social media in awe of his performance.

Philadelphia make it six in a row in NBA

Tobias Harris cheekily suggested he should join teammates Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid as an NBA All Star following his game-winning performance for Philadelphia against the New York Knicks.

Harris led all scorers with 30 points as the eastern conference leaders closed out a tight 99-96 win over the play-off chasing Knicks.

Simmons had 16 points and 13 rebounds while Seth Curry added 20 points as the Sixers continue to rack up the wins despite playing without injured centre Embiid.

The Sixers (28-12) have now won six in a row to stay just ahead of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks in the battle for top seed in the east.

Their latest win came in large part because Harris got hot in the final minutes.

He scored seven straight points, including the tying bucket from three-feet out and a go-ahead lay-up that made it 96-92.

He then walked off the court yelling: "I'm an All-Star!"

New York's All Star, Julius Randle was well contained by Harris and Simmons, scoring 19 points to lead his side.

Julius Randle had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, and RJ Barrett scored 17 points.

The Knicks led just 21-20 after a first-quarter riddled with missed shots.

"The 90s are excited about this game," 76ers President Daryl Morey tweeted.

With AAP

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